Current President

Vladimir Putin

Since May 2018 — President of the Russian Federation.
May 2008 — May 2012 — Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
2000 — May 2008 — President of the Russian Federation after Boris Yeltsin’s premature self-resignation, the latter indicating Mr. Putin as his heir. Vladimir Putin won all the four presidential elections in the first tour by an overwhelming majority of over 50 % of votes. He is the first Russian president who temporarily withdrew from the post of the head of state enjoying major support of the nation.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on October 7th, 1952 in Leningrad. His father, Vladimir Spiridonovich, worked at a railroad car-building factory after returning from war, and his mother was a nurse.

Education:

In 1970 he finished specialized school at the institute of technology.

In 1975 he graduated from the international branch of law department at the Leningrad State University.

In 1973 he became the master of sports in sambo (Russian martial art), and in 1975 in judo.

In 1979 he completed training at the Moscow Higher School of KGB.

In 1985 he graduated from the USSR Red Banner Institute of KGB named after Yuri Andropov and was sent to work at the state security authorities.

Candidate of Economic Sciences. (1996). Colonel in the Army Reserve.

Professional Activities:

In 1985-1990 worked in GDR (Dresden). Officially held the position of the director of the USSR-GDR House of Friendship.

From 1990 — Assistant to the Rector of the Leningrad State University on the international issues, later — Adviser to the Chairman of the Leningrad City Council.

From June 1991 — Chairman of Committee for Foreign Relations of the Mayor’s Office in St. Petersburg, simultaneously — from 1994 — First Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg Government.

1992 – transferred to the KGB Reserve in the rank of lieutenant colonel. He worked as Deputy Mayor of St. Petersburg, while retaining the job of the Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Relations.

In August 1996 he was invited to work in Moscow in the capacity of Deputy Head of Staff of the President of the Russian Federation.

From March 1997 — deputy head of Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, Head of the Main Supervisory Board of the President of the Russian Federation.

On May 25th, 1998 he was appointed First Deputy Head of Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.

On July 25th, 1998 he was appointed Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, simultaneously — from March 26th, 1999 — Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

From August 16th, 1999 — Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.

From December 31st, 1999, after Yeltsin’s announcement of his voluntary retirement, he took up the office of Acting President of the Russian Federation.

On March 26th, 2000 elected President of the Russian Federation for the first term by popular vote. Entered office on May 7th, 2000.

On March, 14th, 2004 he was elected President of the Russian Federation for the second term by 71.31{558cfc34860e1026a57ac76d37c3532ceb53d601450dfdd6e8fc2a17bc11e681} of the ballots cast; entered office on May 7th, 2004.

During his presidential office, Mr. Putin was also Commander-in-Chief, Chairman of the State Council.

In April 2008, Vladimir Putin became head of the United Russia party. At the two recent elections to the Russian State Duma the party won the majority of seats. Before Putin, the United Russia party was led by Boris Gryzlov, who is now Chairman of the party’s High Council.

In spring 2012, Vladimir Putin entered his third presidential term. He officially came into office on May 7th, 2012. The next day upon Putin’s suggestion, the State Duma appointed ex-president Dmitry Medvedev the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

Apart from politics, Vladimir Putin is good at different sports, e.g. martial arts (sambo, judo, karate) and alpine skiing. He holds the title of Master of Sports in sambo (1973) and judo (1975). Experts believe one of Putin’s personal achievements is the International Olympic Committee’s decision to hold the Winter Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi. Vladimir Putin has excellent command of German; his English is also fluent. Mr.Putin’s wife, Ludmila Putina, is a philologist. The Putins have two daughters: Maria (born 1985) and Yekaterina (born 1986, GDR).